State final a rematch of week six, where Curtis won 31-0

By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

The 2A state final game on Friday in Shreveport sets St. Charles and John Curtis in a rematch of their first meeting on October 14, where the Patriots handed the Comets their worst loss of the season, a 31-0 final in LaPlace.

The second-chance game for SCC will give their defense a chance to avenge the shutout by containing a prolific offense that rolled up 413 yards in the first meeting. Last week, Curtis ran for 295 yards, much of it from backs David Seeman and Blaine Roberts, in a 39-7 win over Ouachita. The Pats passing game is also strong with QB Kyle Collura and receiver/kick returner Joe McKnight.

The St. Charles defense has come on of late, allowing only six points in their last two playoff games. They have been helped along the way by Casey Robottom, who nabbed a pivotal interception in last week’s 23-0 win over Sterlington, and Roland Ricca, who kept the Comets in the post-season with a game saving tackle in the final seconds two weeks ago against St. James. Throughout the season, they have given up an average of just over 10 points per game.

On offense, SCC’s Chris Jones has been running for some modest, but tough yardage while quarterback Phillip Sutton has been accurate, connecting on 7-of-12 last week for 78 yards. Sutton also has his favorite receiver to rely on in Robottom, an all-around athlete who plays at kick returner as well.

Having now dispatched the first and fourth seeds, St. Charles has been playing above their 13 seed, but that middle of the pack rank has a lot to do with the loss to Curtis earlier this year and the tight competition in Class 2A. In that game, the Patriots shut down the Comets offense, giving up only 152 yards total.

“We got one more game,” St. Charles coach Frank Monica told his team after the game.”I said it before, this team is special. And all it takes is an opportunity.”